Meet the Staff

Cathey Horsakis the Director of Community Programs and Outreach for the Alpha-1 Association. She began working for the Association in March 2003. She works with the Alpha-1 Association Support Groups throughout the United States and with the Support Group Leader Advisory Committee to set policy and guidelines for the local support groups. Cathey staffs the Alpha-1 Patient Hotline and is responsible for providing information, guidance and support to newly diagnosed Alphas calling the Association. Ms. Horsak chairs the National Education Conference Committee each year and jointly coordinates the Alpha-1 Education Day Program with the Alpha-1 Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas in Austin and first became involved with the Association as a volunteer after the death of her MZ liver affected husband, Richard.

Miriam O'Day

Senior Director of Public Policy

Miriam O'Day manages Federal government affairs, including legislative and regulatory activities for the Alpha-1 Association and Alpha-1 Foundation. She works closely with membership organizations and coalitions including collaboration with the COPD Community. She is also responsible for Federal Legislative Affairs for the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). She chairs the Policy Committee for the US COPD coalition, working closely with the COPD Congressional Caucus.

Alexis began her non-profit career in 2008 when she joined the Alpha-1 Association as an intern. She graduated from the University Of Miami School Of Business in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Business Law and subsequently joined the Alpha-1 Association full-time as Community Outreach Coordinator. Alexis recieved her Master of Business Administration from Florida International University Chapman Graduate School of Business in 2014.

Kim is originally a New York native where she worked as a Letter of Credit Analyst at a prominent insurance company for 11 years and as an Assistant Project Manager for the Photoluminescent Division of a well known building maintenance supply company. Kim has won several awards as a fundraiser in previous years. She enjoys working closely with the community in regards to membership and event registrations.

Barbee Bennington

Support Group & Program Coordinator

bbennington@alpha1.org

1-855-351-6610

Barbee Bennington comes to the Association with eight years of Alpha-1 Advocacy experience with Coram. She has been a member of the Association since 2002 when she began her six year position as Support Group Leader for the Alphazonies. In 2008, she was the recipient of the Claude Baril Communications Award, in recognition of her contribution to enhancing communication for Alphas through the Alphazonies Newsletter. Barbee has an extensive 30 year background in community volunteer service. Being able to be involved with the Alpha-1 community on a national, grassroots level has been a passion for Barbee since the death of her Alpha niece in 2000 and the diagnosis of her son as a ZZ.